Combination cigarette holder and ash tray



, y 1946. B. 2. SMITH 2,400,847

COMBINATION CIGRRETTE HOLDER AND ASH TRAY Filed Aug. 23, :9'44 2sheets-sheet 1 May 21, 1946. 4 B. 2. SMITH 2,400,347

' COMBINATION, CIGARETTE HOLDER AND ASK-{TRAY V Filed Aug. 23, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 21, 1946 COMBINATION CIGARETTE HOLDER ANDASH TRAY Birt Z. Smith, Klamath Falls, Oreg.

Application August 23, 1944, Serial No. 550,742

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination cigarette holder and ash trayand it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindwhich can be readily and conveniently used by a smoker in a manner toeliminate many fire hazards as a receptacle is provided to receivesparks and ashes from the lighted cigarette and into which the cigarettestub may also be deposited.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindwherein the cigarette holder does not prevent the smoker from en joyi-ngthe desired taste and fragrance of the tobacco as the holder has for anobject to provide a structure wherein the lips and tongue of the smokermay have contact with the cigarette to afford the same satisfaction aswhen smoking without a holder.

It isalso an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindwherein the cigarette applied thereto is substantially entirely exposedto the cooling air, thereby materially reducing the heat and steam asdeveloped in the well known enclosed type of holder.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thiskind which allows the cigarette to be consumed to an extremely shortstub or butt and in a manner to prevent excessive moistening of thecigarette by saliva.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improvedcombination cigarette holder and ash tray whereby certain importantadvantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a combination cigarette holderand ashtray constructed in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention, an applied cigarette being diagrammatically indicated bybroken lines;

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the device illustrated in Figure I,the cigarette being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2, the cigarette being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the holder unapplied with respectto the tray;

Figure 6 is a view in top plan of a combination cigarette holder andashtray constructed in accordance with another embodiment of theinvention;

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line TI'I ofFigure 6;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a combinationcigarette holder and ashtray constructed in accordance with a stillfurther embodiment of the invention, a second position of the holderbeing indicated by broken lines; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 ofFigure 8.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 ofthe drawings, the ash tray A comprises anelongated and relativelyshallow receptacle I of desired dimensions and which has its upstandingside walls 2 provided with inwardly and downwardly inclined inner wallsurfaces 3 to facilitate the collection of ashes and the like within thereceptacle I.

The rear end of the receptacle I is formed to provide a transverselydisposed and upwardly facing socket 4 in which is snugly received thelower portion of the guard plate 5, herein disclosed as substantiallyrectangular in form. The side marginalportions of this plate 5 areprovided with the notches 6 to receive the latch springs I carried bythe receptacle I and whereby the holder H, of which the plate 5 isapart, is effec tively but detachably held to the tray A.

The central portion of the plate 5 is provided with an opening 8 of adiameter closely approaching the major diameter of the average cigaretteand leading from the outer edge a' of the plate 5 to the opening 8 is aradially disposed open slot 9, and diametrically opposed to this openslot 9 the lower or inner portion of the plate 5 is provided with-aclosed'slot It also in. communication with the opening 3. i 1

The plate '5 has rigidly formed therewith a rearwardly disposedelongated mouth plate II, said plate II being perpendicular to the plate5 and in the plane of the center of the opening 8. The inner portion ofthe plate II has formed therein, a material distance therealong, a slotI2 which is in communication with the opening 8 and said slot I2 is alsoof a width substantially equal to thediameter of the opening 8. The buttend portion of a cigarette is snugly insertible from without through.the opening 8 and within the slot I2, the length of the slot I2determining the maximum extent which the stub 01' butt end portion ofthe cigarette may be extended through the opening 8.

With the cigarette applied to the holder H, the major portion of thecigarette will initially overlie the receptacle l of the ash tray A, sothat the ashes as they drop from the smoking cigarette will be readilycollected within the receptacle I. During the smoking operation, theplate II is held between the teeth of th smoker with the plate 5immediately adjacent to the lips, whereby said plate 5 serves a a guardto protect the smoker against burning as th cigarette is'consumed to apoint immediately adjacent to the plate 5.

It is also to'be noted that when the cigarette is applied to the holderH, the same will extend above and below the mouth plate I2 so that thelips and tongue of the smoker will have direct contact with thecigarette and the smoker will have the same smoke satisfaction a whensmoking without a holder.

The plate 5 also serves as a guard to prevent an excessive moistening ofthe cigaret by saliva which is particularly advantageous should thecigarette be moved outwardly to provide an exceedingly short stub orbutt should the smoker desire to consume substantially the entirecigarette.

The plate H is also adapted to be grasped with the fingers during asmoking operation and the plate 5 serves as a further means to preventburning of the fingers grasping the plate I I, especially when thecigarette has been consumed to a point closely adjacent to the plate 5.

During the smoking of a cigarette there is a tendency to flatten thesmokers end of the cigarette by pressure of the lips. By the provisionof the slots 9 and M, such flattened end portion of a cigarette can bereadily removed from the holder H and, of course, should such end of acigarette be initially flattened, the cigarette can be more readilyapplied to the holder H. It is also believed to be apparent that whenthe cigarette is engaged with the plate 5 the lighted end will bedisposed in a direction away from the mouth plate ll, therefore, whenthe plate 5 is placed upon a supporting surface the mouth plate I! bygravity will drop down into contact with such surface and thereby raiseand hold elevated the outer or lighted end of the cigarette.

While it has been proven that the snug fitting of the cigarette in theopening is sufficient to maintain the cigarette in the holder,additional means are herein disclosed for this purpose. The plate 5 at asuitable point above the opening 8,

trated an embodiment of the invention wherein trated in Figures 8 and 9,the guard plate 20 of the cigarette holder D has its lower or inner andat opposite sides of the slot 9, is provided with the forwardly directedlugs l4 through which are slidably disposed the extended extremities l 5of a single convolution coilspring Hi. The extremities l5 are of alength to extend beyond the opposite sides of the plate 5 so that uponforcing these extremities inwardly of the plate 5, the spring it will beenlarged sufficiently to allow forveither the application or removal ofthe cigarette or the cigarette stub or butt. The inherent resiliency ofthe spring It will cause the same to contract sufficiently to haveclamping engagement with the applied cigarette.

It is believed to be apparent that in the embodiment of the invention asillustrated by Figures 1 to 3, the holder H, when desired, can bereadily removed and used independently of the ash tray A; r Y

In Figures 6 and '7 of the drawing is illus;

end portion connected by a conventional spring hinge 2| with the uppermarginal portion of an end wall 22 of an ash receptacle 23 having anopen top which is closed by a slidable cover 24. The spring hinge 2|serves to maintain the holder D and the receptacle 23 in desiredrelative positions during a smoking operation. However, when the deviceis not in use, the plate 20 may be readily swung downwardly to bring themouth plate 25 into a position closely underlying the receptacle 23, asis indicated by broken lines in Figure 8. When in this latter position,the device will occupy a minimum of space and will be in such a compactform as to readily permit the same to be placed within a pocket, bag orthe like.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that acombination cigarette holder and ash tray constructed in accordance withmy invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of theconvenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a guard plate having acentral opening through which the end portion of a cigarette isinsertable, and a mouth plate carried by and extending across the guardplate and at substantially right angles thereto and substantiallyradially of the opening, said mouth plate having a slot extendingtherealong and communicating with the opening in the guard plate, saidslot receiving the butt end of the cigarette inserted through theopening of the guard plate.

2. A device of the character described comprising a guard plate having acentral opening through which the end portion of a cigarette isinsertible, and a mouth plate carried by and extending across the guardplate and at substantially right angles thereto and substantiallyradially of the opening, said mouth plate having a slot extendingtherealong and communicating with the opening in the guard plate, saidslot receiving the butt end of the cigarette inserted through theopening of the guard plate, said guard plate having a slot incommunication with the opening to allow for the passage of a flattenedend portion of a cigarette.

3. A device of the character described comprising a. guard plate havinga central opening through which the end portion of a cigarette isinsertible, and a, mouth plate carried by and extending across the guardplate and at substantially right angles thereto and substantiallyradially of the opening, said mouth plate having a slot extendingtherealong and communicating with the opening in the guard plate, saidslot receiving the butt end of the cigarette inserted through theopening of the guard plate, said guard plate being provided with theopposed slots in communication with the openingto facilitate passage ofa flattened end portion of acigarette through the opening.

4. A device of the character described comprising a guard plate having acentral opening through which the end portion of a cigarette isinsertible, a mouth plate carried by and extending across the guardplate and at substantially right angles thereto and substantiallyradially of the opening, said mouth plate having a slot extendingtherealong and communicating with the through which the end portion of acigarette is insertible, a mouth plate carried by and extending acrossthe guard plate and at substantially right angles thereto andsubstantially radially of the opening, said mouth plate having a slotextending therealong and communicating with the opening in the guardplate, said slot receiving the butt end of the cigarette insertedthrough the opening of the guard plate, an ash receiver extendingforwardly from the guard plate below the opening, and means for hingedlyconnecting an end portion of the ash receiver to the lower marginalportion of the guard plate to allow compacting of the holder andreceiver, the

mouth plate being so positioned with respect to the hinged margin of theguard plate to permit the mouth plate to underlie the receiver when thedevice is compacted.

6. A cigarette holder, comprising a plate adapted to be held in themouth, the plate having a slot therein opening through one edge andbeing of a width to receive a portion of one end of a cigarette, andmeans at the open end of the slot adapted to receive and at leastpartially encircle the cigarette to maintain the said end portion inposition in the slot.

7. A cigarette holder of the character stated in claim 6, including aplate perpendicular to and extending from the said one edge of the firstplate, an ash receiving tray, and a slot formed in the top edge of aside of the tray to frictionally receive the second mentioned plate andcouple the tray and holder together.

BIRT Z. SMITH.

